Jordan Staal fights off former Flyers Jeff Carter
PITTSBURGH, Pa – The first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone with very few surprises but the team making the most noise came from the home crowd when the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes for the 8th overall pick in Friday night’ draft, which the Penguins used to select defenseman Derrick Pouliot, Brandon Sutter, and defensive prospect Brian Dumolin.
Staal recently turned down a 10 year deal from the Penguins which left Pittsburgh little choice but to move Staal, who will now go on to play with brother Eric. Penguins Fans had to also be happy when arch rival Philadelphia Flyers passed on defenseman Olli Maatta who the Penguins scooped up two picks after the Flyers at 22nd overall. The future on the Penguins blueline has a very bright future to go along with one of the most prolific offenses in the NHL.
As for the rest of the draft, the Edmonton Oilers ended the suspense at the top of the draft by taking Nail Yakupov first overall instead of defenseman Ryan Murray who scooped him up with the second overall pick. Center Alex Galchenyuk went third overall to the Montreal Canadians and the New York Islanders selected defenseman Griffin Reinhart 4th overall.
Centers Filip Forsberg and Mikhail Grigorenko feel the most according to their respective Central Scouting rankings to the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres respectively at 11 and 12. The Sabres took another center with their second first round pick at 14, which they received from the Calgary Flames and took Zemgus Girgensons. The Caps also had two first round picks and selected right winger Thomas Wilson at 16.
The Head Scratcher award once again went to the Philadelphia Flyers by selecting a Mike Richards clone in Scott Laughlin at 20 when his CSS ranking was 28 among North America skaters only. The Flyers already have Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn, Danny Briere, and Claude Giroux, the Flyers deepest position on the current roster, and the team’s top prospect is center Nick Cousins.
Only time will tell if passing on Maatta and other quality defenseman and the pick of the litter of goaltenders with the exception of Russian goaltender Andrei Vasilevski who Tampa Bay picked one spot ahead of the Flyers at 19.
The Florida Panthers also went for a reach at 23 by selecting defenseman Michael Matheson who’s CSS ranking was 30 among NA skaters. The biggest reach in the first round clearly went to the Calgary Flames at 21 by selecting Mark Janikowski who was ranked 43rd among NA skaters.
Rounds 2-7 will begin 10AM Saturday morning in Pittsburgh beginning with the Columbus Blue Jackets pick which is 31st overall.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com
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